I only watched this film once, and I'm not inclined to watch it again because it's so dark and gritty, but I'll tell you what - it's so expertly plotted and written, I don't think you'd be able to spot a flaw or loose end in the film anywhere. Part caper flick and part prison movie, it's an unusual tale that involves two million bucks in stolen loot, a liver transplant, and an outlaw who matches wits with a slew of Mexican gangsters who'll take each other out if they have to in order to get their hands on the cash.
One thing is certain, you'll never find a prison anywhere else in the world like 'El Pueblito'. It's run like a small city by a drug kingpin, with family allowed inside if their jailed member has the means to support them. There's a concept I never thought about. When a nameless outlaw otherwise known as The Driver (Mel Gibson) shows up following a joint U.S./Mexican authority vehicle chase, he takes his time sizing up the joint, and eventually hatches a plan to get his two mil back, while watching the back of a ten year old boy (Kevin Hernandez) he's befriended along with his prostitute mother (Dolores Heredia).
The story does have it's twists and turns, and if your attention strays you might get lost, so keep your eye on the ball with this picture. Those of faint heart or weak stomach might be advised of the graphic liver operation, which might be more squeamish than some of the shootouts that occur. But the topper has to do with the way Gibson's Driver puts it over on the bad guys by being even more of a bad guy. The way he set up the American shipbuilder was a blast all by itself, but the best jaw dropping moment for me occurred when poor old Reginald T. Barnes answered the knock on his door and had no way of realizing what was about to happen. That was a twist I'm sure no one saw coming.
One thing is certain, you'll never find a prison anywhere else in the world like 'El Pueblito'. It's run like a small city by a drug kingpin, with family allowed inside if their jailed member has the means to support them. There's a concept I never thought about. When a nameless outlaw otherwise known as The Driver (Mel Gibson) shows up following a joint U.S./Mexican authority vehicle chase, he takes his time sizing up the joint, and eventually hatches a plan to get his two mil back, while watching the back of a ten year old boy (Kevin Hernandez) he's befriended along with his prostitute mother (Dolores Heredia).
The story does have it's twists and turns, and if your attention strays you might get lost, so keep your eye on the ball with this picture. Those of faint heart or weak stomach might be advised of the graphic liver operation, which might be more squeamish than some of the shootouts that occur. But the topper has to do with the way Gibson's Driver puts it over on the bad guys by being even more of a bad guy. The way he set up the American shipbuilder was a blast all by itself, but the best jaw dropping moment for me occurred when poor old Reginald T. Barnes answered the knock on his door and had no way of realizing what was about to happen. That was a twist I'm sure no one saw coming.